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| First still released from Paolo Sorrentino's La Grazia, which will open Venice Film Festival and play in competition Photo: Andrea Pirrello/MUBI |
Toni Servillo is right on the top of his game at the heart of Paolo Sorrentino’s exploration of ageing and responsibility. He plays outgoing Italian president Mariano De Santis, who is in the last few months of his term, a man so steady in his considerations that he has earned the nickname “reinforced concrete”. As the clock ticks, he has a trio of pending decisions – two potential pardons of a man and a woman who killed their spouses for very different reasons and a bill that will, if he signs it, legalise euthanasia. The film also considers his relationship with his daughter Dorotea (Anna Ferzetti) and a betrayal that haunts him years down the line. Thoughtful but with plenty of Sorrentino flourishes, including Servillo offering up a slice of rap that is worth watching this film for alone. He told us: “Definitely the rap was hardest. But it was also the most fun.”
Kung Fu Panda 3, 4.10pm, ITV2, Monday, May 25
Not all animated franchises have staying power but Kung Fu Panda goes the distance. That's thanks in no small part to the fact that Jack Black's voice suits the bumbling but good-hearted hero to a tee. This time out, the panda discovers who his real dad is but also has his hands full taking on spirit warrior yak General Kai (voiced by JK Simmons). The action, as with all the films in the series, offers a nice blend of knock-about visual humour alongside a decent slice of kung-fu action. There's a sweet appeal to its heartfelt story that should be easy for even the youngest members of the family to follow but enough in the tank to keep older siblings engaged as well.
Robot Dreams, 4.35pm, Film4, Monday, May 25
We’re doubling down on animation this week as this delightful story from Pablo Berger will, at minimum, have you humming Earth, Wind & Fire’s September for a week. Based on the graphic novel by Sara Varon, it charts the tale of a lonely dog who buys a robot companion, finding a thrum of emotion without any need for a script. They become immediate best friends but a trip to the beach leads to trouble and separation. The joy of this bittersweet story is in its heartfelt characters, gentle sweep and constant sense of surprise. All ages can enjoy it but its messaging isn’t just intended for children. A Bank Holiday treat.
Dazed And Confused, 10.55pm, Film4, Thursday, May 28
Richard Linklater may have intended this to be an “anti-nostalgia” movie but the passage of time means you’re likely to be hankering to hang out in 1976 after watching this, even if you weren’t there in the first place. His film follows teens as school is letting out for summer as they go roaming after school. A drama that is all about the little things and small incidents that happen at that age – think first drink, first kiss – Linklater crafts the drama around his excellent ensemble cast. The film also marks Matthew McConnaughey’s first feature – and he had his part bolstered, as the older, weed and women-loving Wooderson, during production because he was so good.
Apollo 11, 7.30pm Sky Mix Saturday, May 30
There was a spate of very good space exploration documentaries a few years ago and this was one of them. Todd Douglas Miller meticulously recreates the mission of commander Neil Armstrong and pilots Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins from July 1969 using only archival footage. It’s a testimony to incredible team work as Miller and co tackled more than 11,000 hours of uncatalogued audio, not to mention restoring a whole tranche of film. His documentary doesn’t need any padding or narration, he simply lets events unfold with minimal on-screen text to the accompaniment of Matt Morton’s electro score, which was made using only instruments from the period.
Ghost Trail, 9.05pm BBC4, Saturday, May 30
Mosul star Adam Bessa continues to mark himself out as a name to watch in this nerve-jangling thriller from Jonathan Millet. His literature professor Hamid has fled to Europe after being tortured in his Syrian homeland by the Assad regime. Now he is part of a group who are determined to track down war criminals, including his former torturer. After encountering a student Harfaz (Tawfeek Barhom), he becomes increasingly convinced he is the man… but could he just be an innocent victim like Hamid? The question haunts Hamid and the film, taking in similar territory to Jafar Panahi’s [film]It Was Just An Accident[/film, but in much more of a thriller mode. Beyond the gripping main plot, this is also a consideration of exile and obsession. Jonathan Millet told us: “What I like about trauma is, at first, it's invisible. And you can use the tools of cinema to plunge deep into and access the mind of a character.”
The Lobster, streaming for free on Channel 4 on demand
Yorgos Lanthimos layers on the irony in this tale of a Dystopian near-future, where human relationships are key survival – at least in your current form. Guests at a plush hotel are single, a situation that cannot be allowed to continue. They have checked in with the clock ticking on 45 days to find a mate – with faking it till you make it not an option – before they find themselves, instead, transformed into the animal of their choice. Among them is divorcee David (Colin Farrell), who finds himself on the run with other escapees who, in an absurdist twist, are forbidden to have romantic relationships altogether. The satire here is sharp and the humour as dry as unbuttered breakfast toast but there's just enough of a suggestion of a soft undercarriage to lend Lanthimos' film some emotional weight.
This week’s short selection is How Mermaids Breed by Joan Ashworth and you can read more about her work on her
